Supergrass: Diamond Hoo Ha

As each year passes, these Oxford Britpop veterans become slightly less relevant, with 2005’s underwhelming Road To Rouen seemingly indicative of an ageing band struggling to work out where they belong.

A regrouping of sorts, Diamond Hoo Ha sees Gaz and co striving to retrieve the fizz of their defining album, I Should Coco, with lead single Diamond Hoo Ha Man, a commanding blast of hyperventilated glam rock blues, providing a statement of intent.

Much of this record is good fun: wired post-punk on Rough Knuckles; the Dylan-esque Ghost Of A Friend; Rebel In You’s winning mix of rhythmic hooks and unpredictable melody.

The problem is that several tracks make you think of other bands; The White Stripes, in particular, is a disconcerting influence. Still, there’s enough here to prevent Supergrass from being written off just yet.